Collapsible window ventilator



May 10, 1949. J. swANs K| I COLLAPSIBLE- WINDOW VENTILATOR Filed- Feb.13, 1947 Patented May 10, 1949 NITED STATES l' TENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLEWINDOW VENTILATOR Joseph Swanski, Worcester, Mass.

Application February 13, 1947, Serial No. 728,221

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to ventilators, and more particularly to awindow ventilator which may be detachably secured to a window sashthereby automatically to provide proper draftless ventilation wheneverthe window sash is raised, but at the same time to obstruct the passageof rain, snow and other objectionable matter therethrough.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ventilator whichmay be secured to the lower rail of a window sash thereby to be drawnover the opening formed whenever said sash is raised, and to betelescoped together whenever said sash is lowered.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear,the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements ofparts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawingsof a preferred embodiment of the invention from which the severalfeatures of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 represents, in front elevation, a window frame having a windowsash to which the present invention is applied.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 ofFig. 1 and showing the disposition of the present invention whenever thewindow sash is in its closed position.

Fig. 3 represents, in an enlarged scale, a sectional View takensubstantially along line 2-2 and showing the disposition of the presentinvention whenever the window sash is raised.

Fig. 4 represents, in an enlarged scale, a fragmentary end portion ofone of the slat elements of the present invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the present invention isparticularly adapted to be used in conjunction with the usual type ofwindow sash which comprises upper and lower horizontally disposed railmembers It and I! which are secured at their respective end portions tothe usual vertically disposed side members I2 and I3. These elementsIt], H, l2, and [3 form the usual lower sash frame in which is mounted awindow pane I4. This window sash is slidably mounted Within the usualWindow frame which comprises the side frame members l5 and I6 and theusual window sill IT. Formed in each of the frame members [5 and I6 area pair of parallel and vertically disposed window sash guiding channelsl8, and I9. These channels 18 and i9 are defined by means of theparallel strips 20, 2|, and 22 which may be secured directly to 2 theinner portion of each of the window frame members [5 and 46 or they maybe formed integrally therewith.

As is well known by those skilled in the art. the lower window sashframe is adapted to be slidably mounted within the oppositely disposedinner guide channels 19, I9 and an upper window sash frame is adapted tobe similarly mounted within the outer guide channels l8, l8. Referringparticularly to Fig. 1, there is disclosed a portion of an upper windowsash comprising a lower sash rail 23, side frame members 24 and 2e andan upper window pane 26.

As hereinabove noted, the present invention contemplates the provisionof a ventilator device which may be detachably secured to the lower railof a. window sash. This ventilator device comprises an invertedsubstantially troughshaped support member 21 having one marginal edgeportion 28 thereof adapted to be detachably secured to the sash rail 4 lby means of a plurality of screws 29, 29. Referring particularly toFlg,1, it is to be understood that the over-all length of the member 21 issubstantially less than the width of the sash rail H so that when it isapplied to the rail it will not interfere with the usual movements ofthe window sash.

Suitably secured to the member 21 are a pair of flexible cloth tapes 3!!and 3! each of which depends downwardly from the member 21 thereby tosupport a plurality of parallel slat members 32, 32. Each of the slatmembers 32, 32 is formed. as an inverted trough-shaped member which isprovided with a pair of slots 33, 33 disposed in spaced relation alongthe apex portion 34 thereof. Each of the tapes 3i] and 3| is adapted topass through a respective one of the slots 33. 33 and as the materialabout each of the slots 33, 33 is clamped together about the tapes 3!]and 3|, it is to be understood that the tapes will function to suspendthe slats 32, 32 in spaced relation with each other from the supportmember 21.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be apparent that whenever thelower sash rail I I is raised a substantial distance above the windowsill ll an opening will be formed over which the ventilator slats 32, 32will be automatically extended thereby to prevent the passage of anyforeign matter or direct air currents through said opening. It will beclear that since the apex portion 34 of each of the slats 32, 32 isdisposed within the confines of its adjacent slat member that it will bealmost impossible for any foreign matter to be blown directly throughthe ventilator device and into the window opening.

By referring to Fig. 2 of the present drawings it will be understoodthat upon the closing of the lower window sash the slat members 32, 32will be automatically telescoped together to the end that they will formno obstruction to the lowering of the sash rail ll. Fig. 2 discloses thewindow sash in its lowered position with the ventilator slats 32, 32 allnested together beneath the support member 21.

The present invention contemplates a ventilator device having theventilator slats thereof formed of such a length that they may bereadily received within the oppositely disposed outer channel groovesl8, l8 of the window frame. From this it will be understood that thechannel grooves I8, 18 will function to guide the ventilator slatswhenever the same are raised and lowered and also these channel guideswill prevent the ventilator slats from moving sidewise or endwise ofeach other in response to pressures exerted thereon by the wind.

Realizing that all window frames are not made in standard widths, thepresent invention also contemplates the use of extendable members 35, 35which may be telescopically secured over the end portions of theventilator slats 32, 32. More specifically, each of the members 35, 35is formed with a cross section substantially like that of each of theslats 32 so that it may be readily mounted in intimate contact with theend portion of each of the slats. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, eachlower marginal portion 36, 36 of each of the members 35, 35 is bentabout the associated marginal portion of a slat so as to secure each ofthe members 35, 35 in place. it will be understood that each of themembers 35 may be shifted back and forth longitudinally of itsassociated slat member thereby to accomodate the slat to the particularwindow frame width to which the ventilator unit is to be applied. Thepresent extendable members 35, 35 may be provided at each end of each ofthe slats 32, 32 or may be applied to one end only of each slat. Ineither case, the present ventilator unit, equipped with these extendablemembers can be fitted into any usual type of window frame. Referringparticularly to Fig. 1, it is to be understood that when the presentventilator device utilizes the hereinabove described extendable members35, 35, these latter members will be slidably mounted within theoppositely disposed channel guides l8, l8 thereby to support and guidethe ventilator slats in a manner as hereinabove described.

From the above it will be apparent that the present invention comprisesa novel and meritorous ventilator device which may be detachably securedto a window sash and which is adapted to be drawn automatically over theopening formed whenever the sash is raised and to be telescopedautomatically together whenever the sash is lowered.

I claim:

1. A collapsible ventilator for a window frame From this having avertically disposed window sash slidably mounted within said frame, saidventilator comprising, a pair of guide channels in said frame, saidguide channels being vertically disposed at the respective sides of saidframe, an elongated member having one marginal edge portion thereofsecurable to the lower rail of said window sash, a plurality of paralleland vertically stacked nestable slats each having a substantiallyinverted trough-shaped cross section and having one end portion thereofslidingly received within one of said guide channels, a membertelescopically secured at the other end portion of each of said slats,each of said telescopic members being slidingly received within theother one of said guide channels, and flexible means carried by saidelongated member and secured at spaced locations along its length to theapex portion of each of said slats thereby normally to support saidslats in spaced relation with each other whenever said window sash israised a substantial distance off the lower portion of said frame, saidslats being adapted to be nested successively together whenever saidwindow sash is moved downwardly toward the lower portion of said frame.

2. The combination with a window frame having a pair of verticallydisposed guide channels, each channel being disposed at an opposite sideof said frame, and a vertically disposed window sash slidably mountedwithin said frame, of a collapsible ventilator comprising, an invertedsubstantially trough-shaped member having one marginal edge portionthereof detachably secured to the lower rail of said window sash, aplurality of parallel and vertically stacked nestable slats each havingan inverted substantially trough-shaped cross section and having one endportion thereof slidingly received within one of said guide channels, amember telescopically secured at the other end portion of each of saidslats, each of said telescopic members being slidingly received withinthe other one of said guide channels thereby to position said slatsbetween said trough-shaped member and the lower portion of said windowframe, and flexible means carried by said trough-shaped member andsecured at spaced locations along its length to the apex portion of eachof said slats thereby to suspend said slats in vertically spacedrelation with each other whenever said window sash is raised and topermit said slats to telescope beneath said trough-shaped memberwhenever said window sash is lowered.

JOSEPH SWANSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,075,461 Parmenter Mar. 80, 19372,318,525 Renton May 4, 1943

